nysepost.com

As enrollment in California's state health insurance exchange gets underway for the third year, officials don't want the faded focus on national health-care reform to impede public awareness of the program.

Covered California will target them and continue outreach to Latinos, who make up the largest portion of the state's uninsured population. The ad, which was shot using a camera effect sweeping past the scene in three seconds, runs in slow motion, to draw in viewers and motivate them to explore health insurance through Covered California.

He added, "We need to remind those who are considering going without coverage that they are a diagnosis or an accident away from going broke or not getting the early intervention that can be life-saving". Many are eligible for subsidies based on income. The ads will include information in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese. For federal tax returns filed in 2016 and beyond, the penalty for not having health insurance will be at least $695 for each adult and $347.50 for each child, up to $2,085 per family.

Officials are hoping to enroll 295,000 to 450,000 more Californians during the enrollment period.

The event was just one stop on a statewide bus tour that began on Friday in San Diego in which uninsured people are being encouraged to shop for insurance. According to healthcare.gov, those who don't enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, can’t enroll in 2016 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment period.

"Once a year the uninsured can enroll in Covered California, and many do not realize they are eligible for subsidies, but they are", said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health CEO.

More than 2 million Californians have purchased health insurance through Covered California since the exchange began offering coverage in 2014.